Chapter 272 Lullaby for the Unborn

Chapter 272 Lullaby for the Unborn
Leitana's head tossed from side to side against the pillow, damp curls clinging to her forehead. Sweat glistened across her skin as soft whimpers escaped her lips.

"No... no..."

In the dream, faceless figures surrounded her.

They had no eyes or mouths, only smooth, pale voids where their features should have been. Their hands reached toward her, fingers unnaturally long as they clawed at her clothes, her skin...

Her belly.

She struggled to push them away, but her body refused to obey. It felt as though invisible chains pinned her in place.

One cold hand pressed against her stomach.

"No!" she cried. "Don't touch my baby... please!"

The figures closed in, their icy touch burning against her skin. They whispered words she couldn't understand, yet somehow felt—dark promises about her child, about taking what was never theirs.

She fought harder.

"Leitana!"

Ravial's voice tore through the nightmare.

Her eyes flew open as she jolted upright with a gasp, chest heaving. Her nightgown clung to her damp skin while her hand instinctively flew to her belly.

Ravial was already beside her.

He gathered her into his lap, one arm wrapped securely around her while the other rested protectively over their unborn child.

"Shh, my lamb," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her damp hair. "I'm here. You're safe."

Leitana buried her face against his neck, still shaking.

"Mi... mi dreamed..." she whispered. "Dey were trying to take our baby."

His embrace tightened.

"No one will touch you," he said quietly. "No one will touch our child. I swear it."

He kissed her forehead before gently wiping away her tears.



Leitana sat alone on the wooden bench, staring into the cloudless sky. The warm tropical breeze stirred the leaves of the mango tree overhead, but it did little to calm her restless thoughts.

The nightmare lingered.

Then there was Lila.

Her unnaturally wide smile.

The way her gaze kept drifting to Leitana's stomach.

Her strange insistence on showing her a "secret pool."

The memories tangled together until every glance, every shadow, every unexpected sound felt threatening.

She was exhausted.

Not just physically, but emotionally.

A young staff member named Mere approached carrying a small tray. She smiled shyly as she offered Leitana a glass filled with a pale, milky drink.

"Mrs. Leitana... I made this for you," she said softly. "Coconut water with fresh ginger, turmeric, and herbs from the garden. It's good for you and the baby. It'll help with your strength."

Leitana stared at the glass.

Immediately, her body tensed.

Her thoughts flashed to the black substance she'd been vomiting in secret.

To the nightmare.

To the voice in the garden.

"What is this?" she asked quietly.

Mere blinked.

"It's... just something healthy, ma'am. I made it myself."

Leitana's fear took over.

"I don't want it," she snapped, rising abruptly. "Please... take it away."

The girl's smile vanished.

She lowered her eyes as they filled with tears, then hurried off with the tray trembling in her hands.

Leitana slowly sat back down.

Guilt settled heavily in her chest.

Mere had only been trying to help.

But fear had begun to poison everything.

And deep down...

She couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was drawing closer.

Leitana sat on the bench for a long while after Mere left, guilt and fear twisting inside her like a knot she couldn’t untie. The sky above was still bright and beautiful, but it felt distant, almost mocking. She needed something to quiet her racing thoughts.

Piano.

The idea came to her suddenly, like a small light in the darkness. She hadn’t played since they arrived in Vanuatu. Maybe the music could help.

She stood up slowly, one hand on her belly, and walked back toward the villa. The staff moved quietly around her, offering gentle smiles she tried to return. In the sunroom at the back of the house, a beautiful upright piano stood near the large windows overlooking the ocean. It had been brought in especially for her.

Leitana sat down on the bench, fingers hovering over the keys for a moment. Then she began to play.

Soft at first, a gentle lullaby she used to sing to the younger girls at the orphanage. The notes flowed out, filling the room with warmth and memory. She played for what felt like hours, old hymns, island songs, pieces she had learned at Juilliard. Her hands moved across the keys with growing confidence, the music pouring out of her like a release. For a little while, the fear faded. There was only the melody, the vibration under her fingers, and the gentle kicks from her baby responding to the sound.

When she finally stopped, her shoulders felt lighter. She let out a long breath, resting her hands in her lap.

Her phone buzzed on the small table beside the piano.

She picked it up and her face lit up with genuine joy when she saw the name.

Marita.

She answered immediately.

“Riri!” Leitana exclaimed, smiling wide. “Mi miss yu so much! How are you?”

Marita’s voice came through, warm and familiar, but there was a slight shake in it that Leitana noticed right away.

“Lei… mi miss yu too. So much. Everything here is… crazy. But mi fine. Lucius is treating me well," she said with a small laugh that didn’t quite hide her nervousness. “How is Rosie? And the baby? And… how are you?”

Leitana leaned back, closing her eyes as she spoke. “Rosie is getting so much better. We went to the waterfall yesterday. It was beautiful and the baby is kicking a lot. Mi Ravial is… taking care of us.”

There was a pause on the other end. Then Marita’s voice dropped, serious now.

“Lei… something happened last night. At the restaurant Lucius took mi to. There was… a shooting.”

Leitana’s smile faded instantly. She sat up straighter, heart jumping into her throat.

“What? Marita, are you okay? Was anyone hurt?”

“Mi okay,” Marita said quickly. “Lucius protected mi. But… one man died and the police… they think the shooters were aiming for our table. For us.”

Leitana’s hand flew to her mouth, eyes wide with shock.

“Oh my God… mi so sorry. What happened? Who would do that?”

“Mi don’t know,” Marita whispered. “But Lucius… he’s not telling mi everything. And now mi feel like someone is watching us. Lei… mi scared.”

The two friends stayed on the phone for a long time, voices soft and worried, the distance between them feeling heavier than ever.